MovieChat Forums > Rude Boy (1981) Discussion > Why did The Clash want to be portrayed t...

Why did The Clash want to be portrayed this way?

posted 19 years ago by ccr1633
3 replies | jump to latest

I'm not talking about the live footage, but rather the Ray Gange scenes. We all know these scenes with Gange were scripted and he was acting in them, but in many scenes all of the Clash, except Strummer but including Bernie Rhoades, are shown being a complete a-hole to this guy. Sure, Gange portrayed a total loser, but this film gives the impression that Topper, Paul, Mick, and Bernie are a cruel bunch of azzholes (whatever their shortcomings I don't believe this to be the case). So, why in hell would the Clash want to present themselves this way?

The musical footage aside, this film was a real mess. But I love it anyway for its glimpse into the past during a fertile time for British rock.

[–] azzymj 19 years ago

I think that's a hard question to answer. I read that Joe and Mick did refuse to be part of the scene where Ray gets put in the bath tube. Topper and Paul problaly did it because they were asked too and if you read any of the books there is an impression that Paul and Topper are mischivous but also Followers. and Mick during this point in his life was from what I've heard an Ass so him being an Ass to Ray probally wasn't a stretch. The part where Mick yells at Ray to "get off the *beep* Stage" he was really yelling at the camera guy for real they made it look like he was yelling at Ray in editing. And Bernie Rhodes wasn't in it do you mean Johnny Green he's the head roadie with the glasses. They all were probaly just trying to be cooperative with the film crew who were often loaning the clash money and buying them pints and cigs.
The Clash didn't like the movie and refused to go to the premire. mostly they didn't like the side story about the Theives. They tried to distance themselves from the movie.
wanted to give you an answer but since I'm not the Clash it's probally not the right answer. I tried

[–] azzymj 18 years ago

I always wanted to know Why Joe Strummer let the little skin head Claim to be his cousin because no where have I read that he actualy was his cousin just that he kept saying so around the film crew so they put him in the movie. That's really weird.

[–] norah-e 17 years ago

You're right, it was a bit of a mess.

I think I read somewhere that the plot originally had intentions for being more extensive, but they kinda just got themselves into a mess with where they were going, or had some financial issues so they just kinda gave up on it.

Yeah, I don't remember exactly what I read, but I do know that there was supposed to be more in the plot that never made it into the movie.